A Study of Knowledge Supporting Basic Nursing Arts : A Philological Research on Measurement of Vital Signs

This study is done as part of a series that aims to support the instruction of basic nursing arts in a scientific way. This time, we aim to reveal what degree the supporting knowledge for taking vital signs is proved, by examining the past ten-years of nursing research philologically. We sorted out the research into the following kinds : 1) measurement of blood pressure ; 2) taking of temperature ; 3) measurement of arterial pulse; and 4) measurement of heart rate. No research was found about measurement of breathing. The following results are gained about the measurement of blood pressure : characteristics of measuring appliances must be considered; in order to avoid errors caused by measuring persons, the process of reducing the blood pressure must be slowed when reading the minimum blood pressure. As clean assistance and body positions affect blood pressure, lying on the back syle is appropriate for measuring. The position of the arm measured and that of the heart should be the same level. Also, the thickness of the upper arm influences the measuremnt of blood pressure. When taking temperature, it is necessary to understand the characteristics of thermometers. The exposure of the body works as a factor of altered temperature, and the thickness of subcutaneous fat affects the measuring values when taking axilla temperatures . The temperature returns to its former state in thirty minutes after a hot bath. When using a mercury thermometer under the axilla, 10-15 minutes is needed. The measuring part of temperature taking must be fixed. Some reports say that oral temperatures are not always higher than axilla temperatures. The necessity of taking temperatures of old people within diapers and the proper choice of the measuring part in consideration of the patient's condition is suggested. As for heart beat measurement, it is necessary to consider the influence of exercise and baths and one minute is needed for measuring.